Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-01-07
A. Il o.
WA rtRWAYS.

tnclT COSt.
WA rtRWAYS.
The Drainage of tho Red River Valley.
A public meeting held at Crookston on the
eighth Of last month in the interest Of the
drainage Of the Red River Valley, requested
me by resolution to 'call your attention to
the urgent need OF areful and judicious legis-
lation upon the subject Of drainaGe; also upon
the justice and necessity of very libe raj ap.
preparation from the state to open up the OBJ
structed river channels of this (that) section,
and of the wisdom of tho stato lending her
credit to forward tho scheme" While
willingly comply with this request to the ex-
tent OF commencing the subject to your con.
sideration. am prevented from making the full
recommendations desired by reason of the
inhibtions Of the constitution. Sec 10 of art.
Of the constitution provides that "the credit
Of the state shall never be given or loaned In
aid OF any individual, association or corpora
tion," and SEQ. Of the came article prohibits
the state from contracting "any debts for
works Of internal Improvement or becoming
"a party in carrying on such works except in
cases when grants OF land or other property
shall have been made to the state specially
dedicated by the grant to specific purposes"
etc. While 1t seems to be clear, therefore,
that the constitution stands in the way Of such
state aid as its promoters seek, there are con-
siderations that strongly commend 1t to public
'avor aud such Endorsement by the state as may
be constitutionally given. Careful surveys and
estims tes show that q moderate expenditur re
made in opening and deepening the natural
water courses of the Red River valley will not
only reclaim and make valuable large areas
which are now swamps, but will give system
Of natural drainage to the lands of large
portion of the valley which are now liable In
wet seasons to be rendered almost useless for
cultivation. Included in this area are large
tracts of land which have been conveyed to the
state by the general government as swamp
lands, given to the state for the very purpose
as specified In the congressional grant itself Of
providlng the means for their drainage. The
state, however, instead Of devoting these
lands to that purpose, has granted them
a. . grstuity to corporations to encourage
the building of railroads In sections Of
the state remote from whore they are located.
II these lands were now available for the pur-
pose for which they were granted by congress,
the means would be at hand for the prosecu.
ton of the contemplated work. The state
has diverted them to other PURPOSES and has
received benefit from them through the aid
they have given in the development Of other
portions Of the state. It is this which gives an
sppe arauce Of equity to the claim the valley OF
the Red river presents in this matter. The
appropriation Of portion Of the internal i'm.
provement fund which is biennially distributed
to aid in the construction Of roads and bridges
could very properly be devoted to drainage
purposes - herein contemplated.
Western Waterways.
The report Of the estate commission for the
Of the Mississippi river" con.
tains much matter Of practical interest TO the
people of the state. The improvement Of
our western waterways Is subject that
concerns the material interests of
Minnesota, and should therefore receive such
consideration at your hands ~ may promise to
prove . means to that end. The head of
navigation OF the Mississippi river, and
Of the Red river OF the north, are within our
borders. A large proportion Of our products
finds it, way to market through the two first
named Of these waterways, and the cost of
railroad transportation upon the balance
is greatly lessened by the COM
petition of these water routes In the carrying
trade. The same is the case with our imports
prices prevailing for our agricultural products
make the question Of the cost Of their trans
portation to market an all. important one at the
present time. Therein largely lies the solution
Of the problem with which our producers are
now wrestling, whether they can successfully
meet the competition of cheap labor elsewhere,
In the growing Of food products for the worlds
The moderate expenditure
made by the government in recent years for
the aid Of navigation upon our rivers and the
lake has resulted in more substantial benefit
to the internal commerce OF the country than
any like expenditure elsewhere upon its inland
waterways. Such results warrant demand
upon the government for carrying out Of the
comprehensive system under which the work
has thus far been prosecute'.
The utility of the reservoir system at the
sources Of the Mississippi river has been prac.
ticslly demonstrated during the past season of
dryness. From June until the
close Of navigation thess reservoirs were con-
stantly drawn. and for three months Of the
time to an extent that gave q foot higher
water Ut st. PAM than would otherwise bave
been the case, as estimated by the United
States engineer in charge, thus securing good
stage of water for the largest steamers
throughout the season OF navigation. The
work for the improvement OF the channel OF
the upper Mississippi is embarrassed on &C.
count Of the meagre appropriations for the
purpose, but most substantial benefit has &C.
crued from the expenditure already made.
The wonderful and perhaps unprecedented
growth of the commerce OF Duluth and the
rapid development OF the mineral resources OF
onr territory bordering the lake, present in
AOIu VIC 1AlpoELAuSo ouu HoCchs'
ity of the improvement Of our harbors on
Lake Superior and the enlargement of the
sault Ste Marie Canal. A full presentation
Of the facts illustrating the influence and effect
Of these waterways 10 the development Of our
would doubtless prove 2 revelation
even to many Of our own
people. Accurate statistics OF the com.
merce OF our rivers and lake porta, collected
and published in form for general distribution,
would prove useful 10 demonstrating the
utility Of the Improvements desired. I
would therefore recommend that
the river commission be su-
thorized to incur the expense necessary for
The collection of such statistics, the same to be
reported annually to the governor, A proper
ex preston Of this Legislature, addressed to
congress respecting reeded appropriations for
our waterways, would doubtless aid our repre-.
sentatiyes in that body in their efforts
to secure the recognition demanded.
AN IMPORTANT BODY.